Garment cleaning system



Feb. 7,1939. G. w. JOHNSON 4 GARMENTJLEANING SYSTEM Filed Oct. 25, 1935 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 II I MIN TAN K CONDENJER 5 VA P0 RA TOR STORAGE JUMP TANK CONDENSER FIG.

' INVENTOR GEORGE W. JOHNSON Y aim. e

ffy WM ATTOR EYJ' Feb. 7; 1939. G. w. JOHNSON I GARMENT ,CLEAN ING SYSTEM Filed 0012 23, .1955 3 She'ets-S'neei 2 'iNVENTOR NE W. JDHNSQN ATTORNEY- B way Feb. 7, 1939.

G. W. JOHNSON GARMENT CLEANING SYSTEM Fiied Oct. 25, 1935 -s Sheets-Sheet 3 s 3 g w o:

PM Feb; 1.1m

utur-Eo STATES PATENT OFFICE 2.140.202 cmunn'r CLEANING svs'rnu W. Johnson, Cincinnati, Ohio, assignor to The American Laundry Machinery Gompany Norwood, Ohio, a corporation Ohio Wm October 23, 1935, Serial No. 46,268-

7 My invention relates to fabric treating systems and more particularly to an improved system in which a plurality of fabric treating operations -may be performed simultaneously. a In fabric treating it has heretofore heenthepracflcetowashorcleanthegoodsina treating vessel con a cleaning fluid or solvent which is then drained from the vessel. The cleaned fabric is either driedin the same vessel 10 or the tabrlc is removed from the treating vessel anddriedinaseparatevesseiorhungina dry Whenthe fabric is dried in the same vessel, no time or labor is involved in removing the goods ll toa separate drying vessel or room. In such syltemi. means are also usually provided to recover the solvent during the drying operation. nus feature is of particular importance in dry r cleaning systems in which a volatile solvent, such 20 aa benrine or carbon tetrachloride, is utilized.

. Such solvents are comparatively expensive and in the economical operation of such systems it is essential that they be recovered for reutilization .in the process. If the drying and deodorizing 25 operations are effected in the same vessel as they cleaning or washing operation, however,' the rate oil production is somewhat limited.

In in which the fabric is removed from the treating vessel after the solvent has been so drained from the cleaned fabric the rate of production is high but much time isconsumed and labor involvedinremoving and drying the fabric. Furthermore, when a volatile solvent is employed as the cleaning agent-no means is usually pro- 35 vidd for recovering thevaiuable solvent which consequently contes the surrounding air iniurlousiy ailects e health and comfort oitheoper tors- .In accordance with the present invention, I

' 4 have provided a substantially closed system in which the dryin nd o r e operations are efloted in the same vessel as the washing or cieaningoperation but improved means associated with thesystem are provided for simul-' 5 taneouslydrying and deodoriz'ing fabric in one treating vessel while the cleaning or washing operation is being efiected in'a. separate treating vessel. Improved means are also provided for the cleaned, dried, and deodorized 50 fabric fromone vessel. and inserting another charge while the cleaning and thedrying or deodorinlng operations are being eifected in other treating vessels which form a part of my improved system. c

Itv is therefore. an object of my invention to ence to accompanying drawings in which:

provide an improved system-in which goods may be cleaned or washed in a treating vessel while it is in one position, and which vessel may then be moved to another'position for drying or for drying and deodorizing the fabric without re- 5 moving the goods from the treating vessel.

Another object is to provide an improved system comprising a plurality of treating vessels in which-goods are washed or cleaned in one treating vessel while another batch of goods' are being simultaneously dried and deodorized in a separate vessel which is connected to and forms part of the same system. V

A further object is to provide an improved system comprisinga plurality of treating vessels in which goods may be washed or cleaned in one vessel which is moved to a diflerent. position and goods in another ves'selwhich is connected to the system may be washed and cleaned while the goods in the first vessel are'being dried or deodorized. I

A still further object of my invention is to provide an improved system comprising a plurality of treating vessels connected to the system in such a manner that the fabric may be cleaned in one 251 vessel, the cleaned goods may be dried and deodorized in a, second vessel, and the dried and,

deodorized goods may be unloaded, and an additional batch of goods may be inserted in, a third vessel. v

' My invention will be better understood by refer- Flg. 1 is adiagrammatical view'partly in cross section of'my improved system;

Fig. 2 is a front elevational view of the treating vessels taken on the lines 2-2 of Fig. 3 and show-,- ing means, partly in cross section, for supporting the treating vessels in position and connecting them with the remainder of the system; N

Fig. 3 is a cross section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2; 40

Fig. 4 is a rear elevationalview of the apparatus shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a cross sectional view on thelines' 5-5 of Fig. 2, and

Fig. 6 is .a front elevational view taken on the line- 6- -6 of Fig. 3, the front plate being partially", broken'away to show the underlying gear structure. While in the'accompanying drawings my invention is shown as forming a part of a. dry cleaning, system in which a volatile solvent is'utilized and recovered, it will be understood that I do not desire to limit myself in this respect as obviously my improved system may be employed when water or water and soap or other suitable detergent is utilized, in which case it may not be economical to reclaim the solvent or recover the steam evolved during the drying operation. Referring to the drawings my improved system comprises a plurality of treating vessels l, 2, and 3, supported on a ring 4 which is rotatably mounted upon a cylinder or axis 5. Thecylinder 5 is, in turn, supported by an upwardly extending frame 8, having an enlarged base 8a which is adapted to rest upon the floor of the building.

Extending through the cylinder 5 are a plurality of passages 1, 8, 9, and I8 which are connected to conduits |2, l3 and I4, respectively. The conduit leads to a heater |5 provided with a suitable heating coil Hi, the conduit 2 leads to a condenser provided with a coil I8 through which a suitable cooling fluid, such as water, may be circulated, the conduit l3, which is controlled by a valve l9, leads to a storage tank 28, and the conduit M, which is controlled by a valve 2|,

which is rotatably supported in the casing 3| by means of a trunnion 33 journalled in a bearing 34 extending outwardly from the casing 3|. A

beveled gear 35 is pinned to the outer end ofthe trunnion 33. Opposite the trunnion 33, the drum 32 is provided with an opening which is normally closed by a door 38. The door 38 is rotatably supported by a door 31 for an aligned opening in the casing which is hinged, as indicated at 38, to an annular flange 39 extending outwardly from the casing 3|. The door construction is similar to that disclosed in copending application No. 726,460 to Russel A.- Hetzer to which reference may be made for further details if found necessary or desirable.

Treating vessels and 3 are likewise composed of outer casings 48 and 4| provided with inner rotatable drums 42 and 43, respectively. The doors for the inner drums and the outer casing are similar to those of treating vessel 2 and have accordingly been designated by the same reference numerals. Drums 42 and 43 are also provided with trunnions 44 and 46, respectively, see Figs. 3 and 4, which extend through bearings in casings 48 and 4| and are-provided with beveled gears and 41, respectively.

50 Treating vessel I is supported from the ring 4 by means of a frame having cored branches forming conduits 58, 5|, and 52, and in a like manner treating vessels 2 and 3 are supported from ring 4 by frames having cored branches 53. 54. and 55.

and l8, l1, and 58, respectively. Conduits 58, 53. and 88 are provided for the purpose of supplying clean fluid to or for draining used solvent from the treating vessels when the respective treating vessels are in the position occupied by treating vessel I as illustrated in the drawings. In a like manner, conduits ll, 54, and 81 are provided for the purpose of passing air into the treating vessels. and conduits 82, 55, and 58 are provided for the purpose of passing air from the treating vessels to condenser I! when the respective treating vessels are in the position occupied by treating vessel 2, as illustrated in the drawings.

with a hand wheel 83. The plate 82 is fastened to the cylinder I by any suitable means, such as screws 824. It will therefore be apparent that by' of which bears against the inner end of the boss and the other end of which bears against the collar 68. When it is desired to revolve receptacle I, say from the position shown in Fig. 2, to the position occupied by receptacle 2, the pin 86 is pulled outwardly, hand wheel 63 is rotated in an anticlockwise direction and when the receptacle I has been rotatedl20 degrees, the pin 86 snaps under the influence of the spring into one of the notches 84.

Supported by a suitable bracket 89 attached to the frame 8 is a motor 18 to the shaft ll of which a pinion I2 is attached. The pinion i2 meshes with a gear 13 which is rotatably mounted upon the ring 4. The gear 13 has an elongated hub 14, the inner side of which is provided with a beveled gear 15 that meshes with beveled gears 16, 11, and

-18 which are pinned to shafts i9, 88, and 8|, re-

spectively. Supported on the other end of each of the shafts are beveled gears 82, 83, and 84, which mesh with beveled gears 35, 45, and 41 respectively. The shafts are maintained in position by means of brackets 85, 88, and 81 which extend outwardly from the respective casings.

A collar 88, provided with teeth 9|, is pinned to v the shaftof each of the beveled gears 82, 83, and

84, as illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4 of the drawings, and slidably mounted on each shaft 19, 88, and 8| are clutches 92 provided with teeth 93. Coil springs 94 disposed around each shaft normally maintain each of the clutches in meshing engagement with the teeth of collar 90.

Each of the clutches 92 is provided with a groove into which extends a pintle 95 formed on each of the arms 95 of bell crank levers which are pivotaliy mounted upon a shaft extending outwardly from each casing. The other arm 98 of each of the bell crank levers is provided with a handle 99 by means of which the clutches may be thrown out of mesh with the teeth of collars 98. Extending outwardly from the frame 5 is a stud -|88 which automatically throws clutch 82 out of mesh with collar 98 when the respective treating vessels reach that position.

As will be readily apparent from the drawings,

, the operation of motor 18 rotates drums 32 and 42 when treating vessels and 2 are in the position illustrated in Figs. 2 and 4, but since clutch 82 is disengaged from the collar 98 pinned to shaft 3|, the drum 43 will be maintained stationary when treating vessel 3 is in the position shown in the drawings. If for any reason, however, it is desired to discontinue the rotation of either the drum 32 or the drum 42 when they are in the position illustrated, the clutch 82 controlling the operation of that drum may be manually disenazed.

As illustrated in Figs. 3 and 5, the passage 3 adjacent the front end of cylinder 5 is provided with a casing I85. the ends of which are cored and provided with outwardly extending annular flanges which form seats for valves I88 and I" which are mounted upon a rod I88. Spaced from the valve I88 in the passage 8 is a bracket "8 provided with passages through which the solvent may flow and which supports the inner end of rod I08. Valves I06 and I01 are normally maintained in closed position by means of springs H and III, spring IIO being coiled around the rod I08 between the bracket I00 and the valve seat I06 and spring I08 being coiled around the rod I 08 between the plate 62 and valve I01. Affixed to the rod I08 and arranged within the casing I is a double cone shaped element II5,

, annular collar, II6 for purposes to be later described.

I The cylinder 5 is also provided with a passage II1 leading laterally from passage 9 in'whiehare supported a pair of apertured brackets I10 and H9 in which a rod I20 is slidably mounted. Rod I20 is provided with a collar I2I and spring I22 coiled around rod I20 is disposed between bracket us and collar I2I and holds rod I20 in engagement with collar IIB which is located between the cones II5.

Arranged within the ring 4 are a plurality of passages I25, only one of which is shown in decommunicate with conduits 53 and conduit 56.

respectively, and with passage II1 when ring 4 is rotated to selectively bring the conduits 53 and 56 to the position occupied by conduit 50, as

shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings. From the foregoing description, it will therefore be evident that treating vessels I, 2 and 3 are identical in construction and in the manner in mounted upon ring 4.

In the operation of my improved system, it may be assumed that the treating vessels are in the positions illustrated in the drawings and that which they are the drum 42 contains soiled fabric, drum 32 contains fabric which has been cleaned, and drum 43 contains fabric which has been cleaned, dried, and deodorized. Pressure is first exerted upon head I35 of rod I08. As the rod is pushed inwardly the base of the inner cone presses against and opens valve I06 and-as rod I20'rides upon the inclined face of the other cone, it is forced downwardly, opening valve I30. Solvent from storage tank 20 is then supplied to the treating vessel I, rod I08 is released, valves I06 and I01 are maintained in their normal closed position by the action of springs H0 and III and valve I30 is closed by the action of spring I3I. The motor 66 is then started in operation which rotates inner drums32 and-42. After the fabric in vessel I has been cleaned and the fabric in treating vessel 2 has been dried and deodorized, rod I08 is pulled out, the outer base of cone II5 forces valve I01 open and rod I20, riding upon the face of the inner cone, opens valve I30. The used solvent maythen be drained from the treating vessel 1 to the sump tank 22 through passage I0, and conduit I4. 7 I a While fabric is being cleaned in receptacle I, fabric in receptacle 2 which has previously been washed in the solvent is being dried and deodorized. In practicing this phase of the invention,

air from the heater I5 is passed through c'onduit ll,.passage 1 of cylinder 5 and conduit 54 to the casing 3| where the solvent is evaporated from the' fabric. The solvent laden vapors are then drawn by fan I40, whichis connected by a conduit I4I. to the condenser I1 and by a conduitl42 to the heater I5, through conduit 55,,

passage 8 and conduit I2 to the condenser I1, thecondensed solvent being passed through conduit the apices of which terminate in a substantially I43 to the sump tank 22, as illustrated in Fig. 1 of the drawings. After the air has been circulated through the treating vessel 2 for a sufficient length of time'to dry the'fabric, lever I44 is operated which opens valve I45 and moves valve. I46 to close conduit I42 and open conduit I41 to the atmosphere. Air'is then drawn in to the treating vessel 2 from the atmosphere through valve I45, conduit II passage 1 and is passed out of the treating vessel through conduit 55, passage 8, conduit I2, condenser I1 and conduits I 4|, I42, and I41 to the atmosphere. During the drying of the fabric it will be understood that the drum 32 may be rotated, if desired, by motor 10. e

'While the fabric is being cleaned in vessel I and the cleaned fabric is being dried and deodorized in vessel 2, the cleaned, dried, and deodorized fabric in receptacle 3 is being unloaded and a new chargeof soiled fabric is placed in the vesseL' Rod 61 is then pulled outwardly against the action of the spring and hand wheel '63 is turned to rotate the treating vessels I20 degrees. Treating vessel I is then in the position occupied by treating vessel 2, and treating vessels 2 and 3 occupy the position of treating vessels 3 and I, respectively. The operations just described may then be repeated.

The solvent in sump tank 22 is renovated by passing it to evaporator I50, provided with heating'coils I 5|, the vapors from which pass upwardly through conduit I52 to condenser I53. provided with a cooling coil I54, and the solvent condensed therein is passed through conduit I55 into the storage tank 20.

As illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings,

cylinder 5 is provided with a recess I56 which communicates with conduits 52 and 53. when these conduits are in the position shown in Fig. 2. A pipe I51 leading from this recess connects with a pipe I58 leading from the sump tank 22 which has a branch extending into the storage tank 20. Means are thus provided to effectively vent the system to the atmosphere. From the foregoing specification, it will be apparent that I have provided an improved system in which fabric may be simultaneously subjected to a plurality of different treatments. For example, while'fabric is being cleaned in one treating.

multaneous treating and drying operations except the drum which occupies the loading and "unloading position. This feature is of particu-- lar importance in cleaning and drying fabric with a volatile solvent, such as'benzine or carbon tetrachlonde, because in such casesit is highly desirable to avoid the contamination of the solvent with the moisture which is present in atmospheric air.

To those skilled in the art, many modifications of and widely diflerent embodiments and applications of my invention will suggest themselves without departing from the spirit and scope thereof. My disclosure and the description herein are purely illustrative and are not intended to be in any sense limiting.

What I claim is:

1. Fabric treating apparatus comprising a central support, a treating vessel having an outer casing and an inner rotatable drum mounted to revolve on said support, said support having passages therein communicating with said treating vessel through which a cleaning fluid may be passed to the treating vessel and used solvent drained therefrom when the vessel is in one position upon said support, means whereby said passages may be opened and closed when the vessel is in said position, means for rotating the drum to wash the fabric and means whereby the treating vessehmay be revolved to a second position on said support, said support being provided with additional passages independent of the cleaning fluid passages communicating with the treating vessel when it is in the second position through which a gaseous medium may be passed through the treating vessel to dry the fabric therein.

2. Fabric treating apparatus comprising a cen- I tral support, a plurality of treating vessels, each having an outer casing and an inner rotatable drum, revolubly inounted to move in unison upon said support, supply and drain conduit means communicating with one of said vessels when it is in a predetermined position on said support through which cleaning fluid may be supplied to and drained from the vessel, means whereby said conduits may; be opened and closed when the vessel is in said position, conduit means independent of the supply and drain conduit means communicating with and leading from another treating vessel through which a gaseous medium may be passed to dry fabric therein when the first vessel is in communication with the fluid supply and drain conduits, and means whereby the vessels may -be revolved on said support to a position in which the first vessel is in communication with the drying medium conduits.

3. Fabric treating apparatus comprising a central support, a plurality of treating vessels, each having an outer casing and an inner rotatable drum revolubly mounted to move in unison upon said support, conduit means through which solvent may be supplied to and drained from one of said treating. vessels when it is in a predetermined position on said support, means whereby said conduits may be opened and closed when the vessel is in said position, conduit means independent of the supply and drain conduit means communicating with another vessel through which a gaseous medium may be passed to dry the fabric therein when the first vessel is in communication with the solvent supply and drain conduits, means whereby the vessels may be revolved on said support to a position in which the first vessel is in communication with the conduits through which the drying medium is passed, and means for simultaneously rotating the drums of two of said treating vessels.

4. 'Fabric treating apparatus comprising a central -support having a plurality of fluid and air passages therein, a plurality of treating vessels, each having an outer casing and an inner rotatable drum, mounted to move in unison on said support, communicating means between the fluid passages in said support and one of said treating vessels through which solvent may be supplied to and drained from the treating vessel, means'whereby said passages may be opened and closed when the vessel is in said position, and

communicating means between the air passages in said support and another treating vessel through which air may be passed to dry the fabric in the second treating vessel when the vessels are in a selected position on said support, and means whereby said vessels may be revolved to a second selected position on said support in which the air passages are in communication with the first vessel and the second vessel is in a position where the fabric may be readily removed and a new charge inserted.

5. Fabric treating apparatus comprising a central support having a plurality of fluid and air passages therein, a plurality of treating vessels, each having an outer casing and an inner rotatable drum, revolubly mounted to move in unison on said support, communicating means between the fluid passages and one of said vessels through which solvent may be supplied to one of said vessels and drained therefrom, means whereby said fluid passages may be opened and closed when the vessel isin said position, and communicating means between another treating vessel and the air passages through which the gaseous medium may be passed through the second treating vessel to dry the fabric therein when said vessels are in a selected position on said support, means for washing the 'fabric in the first vessel, means for simultaneously passing a gaseous medium through the second vessel to dry the fabric therein, and means whereby the vessels may be revolved on said support to a second selected position in which the air passages are in communication with the first vessel and the second vessel is in a position to be readily unloaded and recharged.

6. Fabric treating apparatus comprising a central support having liquid and air passages therein, a plurality of treating vessels, each having an outer casing and an inner rotatable drum, revolubly mounted to move in unison on said support, means whereby said treating'vessels may be revolved upon said support, communicating means between each of the treating vessels and the liquid passages through which liquid may be selectively supplied to the treating vessels and drained therefrom when each of the treating vessels is at a selected position on said support, means whereby said liquid passages may be opened and closed when each vessel is in the selected position, and communicating means between each of said treating vessels and the airpassages through which air may be passed through the treating vessels when each of said treating vessels is at a second selected position on said support, said treating vessels being arranged upon said support in such a manner that when one vessel is in communication with the fluid supply and drain passages another treating vessel is in communication with the air passages.

7. Fabric treating apparatus comprising three treating vessels, each having an outer casing and an inner rotatable drum, revolubly mounted to move in unison upon a support, supply and drain conduit meanscommunicating with one of said vessels through which a cleaning fluid may be supplied to and soiled liquid drained; thereirom when said vessels are-in a predetermined position on said support, means whereby said supply and drain.' conduits may be opened and closed.

when the vessel is in said position, conduit means independent of the supply and drain conduits communicating with a second vessel through which gaseous medium may be passed to dry the fabric therein and the third vessel being 10 1 and-- recharged when the first vessel is in comin a position where it may be readily unloaded munication with the supply and'drain'conduit means and the second vessel is in communication with gaseous medium conduits, and means whereby said treating vessels may be revolved to interchange their position on said support.

8. Fabric treating apparatus comprising a support having a plurality of liquid and -air passages therein, three substantially similar vessels, each having an outer casing and an inner rotatable drum, revolubly mounted to move in unison on said support, communicating means between the fluid passages and one of said'treating vessels through which liquid may be supplied and drained from one of said treating vessels, communicating means independent 01' the fluid passages between the air passages and another vessel through which gaseous heating medium may be passed to dry the fabric in the second vessel and the third vessel'being-so disposed with respect to the axis of the support that fabric may be readily removed and a new charge inserted when said vessels are in a predetermined position on said support, means whereby said liquid passages may be opened and closed when the vessels are in said position, and means whereby the vessels may be revolved on said support to a position whereby the third vessel communicates ,with the liquid drain and supply passages, the first vessel communicates with-the air passages. and the second vessel is in a position where it may be readily unloaded and recharged.

' 9. Fabric treating apparatus comprising a central support, a treating vessel having an outer casing and an inner rotatable drum movably mounted on said support, said support being provided with passages ccmmunicatingbwith and treating vessel through which a cleaning fluid. may be passed to the treating vessel and the used fluid drained thereirqm when thetreating ves-;

sel is in one position on said support, means whereby said passages may beopened, and closed when the vessel is in said position, and means whereby said treating vessel may be moved on said support to a'secondposition, said support being provided with additional passages indecasing'an'd an inner movably mounted on said support, said support being provided with liquid passages communicating with said treating vessel through which cleaning fluid may be passed to the treating vessel and the used solvent drained therefrom, means whereby said passages may be opened and closed when,

the vessel is in said position whereby said treating vessel may be substantiallyclosed to the atmosphere when the treating vessel is in a selected position 'on said support, means whereby said treating vessel maybe moved upon said sup-' port to a second selected position, said support being provided with air passages independent of, I

said liguid passages which communicate with said treating vessel when it is in the second selected position, and means for passing air into the treatingvessel through one of said air passages and expelling it through another air passage.

11.' Fabric treating apparatus comprising a central support, a treating vessel having an outer casingv and an inner rotatable drum mounted to' revolve on said support, said support being provided with passages communicating with said treating vessel through which cleaning fluid may be passed to the treating vessel and the used solvent drained therefrom, means-whereby said passages may be opened and closed when the vessel is in said position whereby) said treating vessel may be substantially closed to the atmosphere when the treating vessel is in a selected position you said support, means whereby saidtreating vessel may be revolved on said support to a second selected position, said support, being provided with air passages independent of the cleaning fluid passages which communicate with said treating vessel when it is in the second selected position, and means for circulating air from a closed circuit or from the atmospherethrough the air passages, and the treating vessel to dry or deodorize the fabric when the treating vessel is in the second selected position. r

12. Fabric treating apparatus comprising a central support, a plurality of treating vessels. each having an outer casing and an inner 'rotatable drum mounted to revolve in unison upon .said support, said support being provided with liquid passages communicating with one'oi said treating vessels, when said vessels are in a predetermined position on said support, through which cleaning fluid may be supplied to and drained from the'treating vessel, means whereby when the vessels are in said predetermined position on said support whereby the vessel is substantialiy closed to the-atmosphere during the cleaning operation, air passages in said support independent of. said liquid which are connected in a closed circuit and communicate with a second vessel when "the vessels are in "said predetermined position, and means whereby said vessels msyberevolved to a positionin which the first vessel is in communication with the irmen.

- w. common.

a said *liquid passages maybe opened and closed 

